»Johannes-Passion« by Sasha Waltz on ARTE Concert

With her production of Johann Sebastian Bach's »St. John Passion« (BWV 245), Sasha Waltz devoted herself for the first time to an outstanding sacred work of music history. For the 300th anniversary of the world premiere, she staged it in her choreography as a universal, timeless narrative about the human search for truth, justice and hope, even beyond its religious origin. The production by Sasha Waltz & Guests, originally commissioned and produced by the Opéra de Dijon in co-production with Sasha Waltz & Guests and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, opened the Salzburg Easter Festival on 22 March 2024, then had two performances at the Opéra de Dijon, and was performed at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris on 4 and 5 November.

The production was recorded in Dijon by ARTE under the direction of Corentin Leconte and is available on ARTE Concert for five weeks starting on 20 April 2025, just in time for Easter. The first broadcast on ARTE took place on 28 April 2025 at 0:25 a.m.

While the »St. John Passion« deals with human themes such as power and powerlessness, violence and betrayal, as well as the longing for redemption, Bach's music, in combination with the language of dance, is able to provide comfort in dark times. Sasha Waltz brings her vision of the »St. John Passion« to life on stage with 11 dancers from Sasha Waltz & Guests under the musical direction of Leonardo García Alarcón and the Cappella Mediterranea, the Chœur de chambre de Namur and the choir of the Opéra de Dijon, as well as renowned soloists such as Valerio Contaldo, Georg Nigl and Christian Immler.

See the movie/announcement

St John Passion
Johann Sebastian Bach
Sasha Waltz​

on ARTE Concert

20 April to 26 May 2025

First Broadcast on ARTE TV

28 April 2025, 0:25 am

Choreography and Direction
Sasha Waltz
Musical Direction
Leonardo García Alarcón
Costumes
Bernd Skodzig
Stage
Heike Schuppelius
Lighting
David Finn

Dance / Choreography

Rosa Dicuonzo, Yuya Fujinami, Tian Gao, Eva Georgitsopoulou, Hwanhee Hwang, Annapaola Leso, Jaan Männima, Margaux Marielle-Tréhoüart, Virgis

Puodziunas, Orlando Rodriguez, Joel Suárez Gómez

Soundintervention

Diego Noguera

Evangelist
Valerio Contaldo

Pilate
Georg Nigl

Jesus
Christian Immler

Altus
Benno Schachtner
Soprano
Sophie Junker
Tenor 
Mark Milhofer

Ancilla

Estelle Contaldo*

Servus
Augustin Laudet*

Pierre

Rafael Galaz Ramirez*

Countertenor

Logan Lopez Gonzales*

  
Cappella Mediterranea 
Chœur de chambre de Namur*
Choir of Opéra de Dijon

​

A production by Sasha Waltz & Guests, initially commissioned and

produced by the Opéra de Dijon in co-production with Sasha Waltz &

Guests and Théatre des Champs-Élysées.